Sunray



April 16,1963 B. SUNRAY 3,085,363

AERIAL TOYS Filed Oct. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BERNARD su/v/uy r i: be

3,085,363 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,085,363 AERIAL TGYS Bernard Sunra S. @eean Ave, Center Moriches, NY. Filed Oct. 2, I958, Ser. No. 764,888 21 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) This invention relates to a multi-stage, self-propelled aerial instrument wherein the stages are launched as a unit and subsequently automatically and sequentially sepa rated in flight.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved multi-stage flying toy.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple flying toy wherein releasing means are provided for connection with the torsion motor of an earlier flight member to start the torsion motor of another and later flying member.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a multiple flying toy wherein a torsion motor is connected at one end to a propeller and its other end is connected to a locking device which is constructed to release and start the motor of an adjacent flight member.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a multiple flying toy wherein the resilient member of the torsion member of the motor of a flying toy is secured to a partially rotating hook which is held in a notch by the tendency of the hook to rotate when the motor is under great tension but releases the hook from the notch When the tension in the resilient motor is reduced by unwinding, whereupon the tension in the resilient member of the motor, rotates the hook in substantially a vertical plane, and is forced against the underside of the second airborne member to give it an initial relative flight in an upward direction and simultaneously starts its motor and propeller to continue its flight in an upward direction.

Referring to the drawing wherein my invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the base unit which starts the flight members in flight.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the flight member which carries the other flight members into flight and which has the initially operating wind-up propeller motor for driving its propeller.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the flight member which is discharged by an impulse motor from the flight member shown in FIG. 2 as the wind-up propeller motor of the latter slows down.

FIG. 4 is a flight member which in this embodiment, has no propeller member but which is given a short additional flight by the lever at the top of the flight member shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 but in positions at about 90 from the positions shown in those figures.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and in the position of having been released from the second or intermediate flight member.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the top member of FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, but at a different angle.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the upper member of FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 with the top flight member in place, the upper member being in section in FIG. 8 to show the side view of the pivoted lever member which discharges the flight member mounted in the upper member.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the base member showing the lever member in a retracted position and held by the electro-magnet.

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing the electrical circuit involved.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a modified form of base unit.

FIG. 12 is a top view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the spring operated base member.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the base unit shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the structure of FIG. 14 shown from the left.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the base unit shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 but from the opposite side of FIG. 14 and showing the flight member of FIGS. 2 and 5 in position in the base unit of FIGS. 13 to 15, incl.

FIG. l6 shows the flight members 50 and 57 in place with relation to each other and the flight member 50 and its connected parts just as it might have been released from the flight member 40 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is a detail view of the top of the flight member 40 and the bottom of flight member 50 in place.

FIG. 18 is a view from the left of FIG. 17 but without the bottom of the flight member 50.

FIG. 19 is an elevational view of the flight member of FIG. 16 but without any guiding vane 50 FIG. 19 shows the bottom of flight member 57 as it leaves the top of flight member 150.

This invention contemplates the use of a base member which is placed on the ground or on any stable support, and one or more successively discharged airborne units, the last discharged unit of which may not have a selfpropulsion motor.

The means for airborne propulsion preferably used, are of two types. The first type, except the form of FIGS. 11 and 12, as illustrated herein, is of a springwire type and is used to give an impulse of short duration to a flight member for a higher flight after which the outer type of motor is set in motion and further height in the flight is made possible.

In the use of the first type of motor, there is a reaction between the units of the whole while the second type of motor is used to create a reaction between one airborne unit and the air to maintain the flight which may have been first imparted by the first type.

The second type is of the wind-up propeller kind and gives rotation to the propeller in the proper direction. In tflhe illustrated embodiment, it is a resilient rub-ber ban The usual manner of operation is that the initial flight will be given by a short impulse at which time, the wind-up propeller of the first flight member will be released and flight will be continued by an airborne flight unit whose motor will be released for operation about simultaneously with the operation of the impulse-motor, which continues the flight action by not only that airborne unit but all the other airborne units carried thereby. Since the operation of the impulse propelling-motor starts the relatively upward or outward movement of an airborne unit, this feature has been utilized to start the operation of the wind-up propeller motor. Likewise to obtain the consecutive operations of the several motors, the losing of power by the wind-up propeller motors has been utilized to start the impulse motor of the next unit in operation. This construction wherein the operation of each of the motors, except the first one, causes the successive operation of the next one, assures a continuity of operation of the motors to bring about the best operation of the toy as a whole.

This successive separation and the operation of the motors, in their proper order, enables the operator to wind or set the several motors and release the motor between the base and first flight section, after which the first flight section will become airborne carrying the other airborne units, and at the predetermined time, the first flight unit will lose its speed by the wind-up motor running down and will cause the release of the impulse motor between the first flight unit and the almost simultaneous starting of the second flight and its wind-up motor to continue in flight, with any other flight units which it carries, after the first flight unit has lost its momentum and its motor has stopped. The same operation is repeated by each airborne unit after its flight has been completed, the airborne unit losing its momentum and falling to the ground, while the other unit or units carried thereby continue in flight to go to a greater altitude.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 9, a base member 20 which forms the foundation of the toy, has sufficient area to give it a firm stand when placed on a flat surface as a side walk. Embedded in the upper surface of the base member 20, is a cylindrical member or tube 21, FIG. 1.

A lever 22 extends across and through diametricallyopposite openings in tube 21 and projects at eachend therebeyond. One of these openings 21 is slightly larger than the cross-section of the lever 22. This opening, preferably extends directly toward the longitudinal axis of tube 21 and the fact that the hole is only slightly larger than the lever and that it is drilled radially of tube 21, causes the lever to ride up on the sides of the hole 21 when it is given a rotative movement about the longitudinal axis of the tube. This riding up on the sides of the hole, gives a tendency to return when the resilient motor member of the motor pulling on the outer end of the lever 22, exerts an action in the direction of said axis as will be later described.

The lever 22 has at its outer end a hook 22 which is pulled in an axial direction by the spring 23. Spring 23 is secured at its lower end to a rod or pin 24 as shown in FIG. 1. The rod 24 is held in position by being embedded in base 20. Since spring 23 tends to pull hook 23 downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1, its other end 22 is urged upwardly. In order to hold the lever in set position, there is provided a notch or shoulder 21' on one side of a slot 21 of tube 21, as shown in FIG. 9. This shoulder or notch 21 is preferably at a slight angle with a slope tending to promote movement of the lever end 22 toward the center of the tube, that is, into a position in which it is free of the shoulder and may pivot clockwise as viewed at FIGURE This tendency to move toward released position is further assisted by the movement of the hook up the sides of the hole or opening 21 already described. The slot 21 has suflicient width to receive a bracket 45 fixed to the lower or rearward end of the body member of the flight stage or unit.

The above-mentioned tendencies of the lever 22 to move toward the center of the opening in the cylindrical member 21, if unstrained, is suflicient to free the end 22 from the shoulder 21 and permit sudden movement upwardly, under the influence of spring 23, to give an initial sudden thrust to the flight members as will be described.

'However, it is necessary to restrain the movement of the lever and 22' until such time as it is desired to have the airborne units in flight. This may be done in different ways. One such construction to bring about this restraint, is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 9, and 10.

An electro-magnet 25 is mounted on base member 20' in position to have end 22 of lever 22 against its core. While the magnet is energized and lever arm 22 is placed under shoulder 21', lever arm 22 will be held in restrained position and arm 22 will not be permitted to act upon the lower end of the flight member as will be later described.

Referring to FIG, 10 the magnet 25 has a core member 25 which is in position to hold the lever 22 until it is desired to launch the flight stage comprising rod or body member 40.

The coil 25 is so arranged in its circuit that the lever 22 will be drawn to the core of the coil and held, but can be released when desired by short-circuiting the battery momentarily so that the coil becomes de-energized to demagnetize the core, thus releasing the lever 22.

In FIG. 10*, a battery 26 is provided with leads 27 and 27 the former leading to one end of the coil and the latter to the rod 24 to which the spring 23 is attached. This spring 23, conducts the current from the rod 24 to the lever 22 which conducts it to the core 25 of the coil. The core acts as a ground to which the other end of the coil 25 is attached. Thus when the lever 22 is placed in contact with the core 25*, the circuit is complete. However, there is a push button 28 which is connected across the leads 27 and 27, which is used to short-circuit the battery and release the lever 22 to give the upward movement to the initial flight member as already indicated and which will be fully later explained.

-When the circuit is completed by placing the lever against the core 25 of the coil, the circuit is as follows: From battery 26, through lead .27, coil 25, to ground on core 25 through lever 22, spring member 23, rod 24 and lead 27 back to the battery. When so connected, the lever 22 is held so as tomaintain the tension in the spring member 23. To release the lever from the core 25 it is only necessary to push down on the push button 28. This shorts the battery for an instant and the lever 22 is released, the spring member 23 breaks the circuit so that the battery is no longer in operation and in addition, the outer end 22 of the spring member 23, comes into sudden contact with the bottom of the body member 40 of the initial flight member and places the initial flight member in flight Another electro-magnetic way of effecting launching of the united stages is shown upon FIGS. 11 and 12, where a plate or table 30 is supported by four legs 31 which are secured to the plate or table 30 by the nuts 32. The plate or table 30 is preferably of insulating material. Located at the center of the table 30 is a hollow tube 33 which is the counterpart of tube 21 already described. Tube 33 operates merely as a stand for the lower part of the airborne member which is ejected from the tube to begin its flight. 'It is provided with a slot 33 to receive the bracket 45 at the lower end of the body member 49.

Below the table 3% there is suspended a solenoid 34 having a freely movable armature 34 which has a movement within the limits 34 as shown in FIG. 11 at its upper position in a dotted line and in the lower position as shown in a full line. The end or head 34* of the armature 34", serves to give the lower end of the flight element the necessary sudden start in becoming airborne. The connections 35 are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy when the flight member is ready. When this is done, the armature rises at great speed to give the initial movement to the flight element as will be described. By applying current to the leads 35', the solenoid can be energized when all the flight elements are ready, and the energization of the solenoid and its consequent'operation, lifts the flight elements and the full operation of the toy is brought about. As soon as the bracket 45 clears the upper edge of the slot, the wind-up propeller begins operation and the initial flight member is in flight as will be further explained. Until the bracket 45 clears the slot 33*, the propeller is held from rotating.

In addition to the electro-magnetic means, I have provided an alternative construction which is mechanical in its operation. This construction is illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16. A base member is provided on which is mounted a tube 121. This tube has an opening sufliciently large to loosely receive the lower portion of the flight member and is a counter-part of the tube 21 already described. The lower end of flight member 40 has a bracket arm 45 which enters a slot 121 in the tube 121. There is also another narrow slot 121 in tube 121, opposite the slot 121 and at its lower end has a shoulder or notch 121. This notch 121 acts as a detent for the motor means now to be described.

The motor means for the initial impulse to be given the flight member in this construction, is a spring member 122 which has a coil 122* for giving additional resilience. The spring member is held in position by a stat1onary portion 122. which is secured to the base member 120, for example, by staples. Extending from the upper side of the coil 122 is the resilient arm 122. The outer end of this arm 122 extends into the slot 121 and diametrically across cylindrical member 121.

This places the spring member or arm 122 in position to be directly below the lower end of the flight member 40 already referred to, when the latter is in place. When the spring arm is forcibly bent downwardly and moved to one side beyond the outer edge of the notch or shoulder 121, it may be held in position by the shoulder 121. It is then so held to one side of the center of the tubular member 121. To hold arm 122 within notch 121, I provide a holding and releasing device comprising a bellcrank 123' which is pivoted on the base member 120'. At one end of bell-crank 123 is a detent arm 123*. This detent arm 123* when in the upright position is opposite a bend 122, shown in FIG. 15. An arm 1215 of bellcrank 123 serves as an operating arm for detent 123 when the spring arm 122 is to be released. When the parts are set with spring arm 122 in position behind shoulder 121, and the lower end of the flight member is in place, the operator pulls on the cord 123. This turns the bell-crank 123 and swings spring arm 122 in a substantially horizontal plane, back toward the center of the cylindrical member 121. As soon as detent member 123 has passed bend 122 of the spring arm 122, the arm 122 will slide out of notch 121 and spring member 122 will be released.

When released by detent 123 resilient arm 122 naturally returns to its normal position in slot 121 and is also assisted in this movement by the slope of the shoulder 121. Release of spring arm 122 imparts a sudden upward thrust to the assembled flight stages. In this form, as in the other forms previously described, the motor member which normally has a position in the center of the cylindrical member, is held at one side until it is desired to release the flight member. At this time, the motor member 46 moves rotatively, substantially in a horizontal plane which sets it in motion to give the desired impulse start to the flight member.

The construction and operation of the flight members will be described. As already indicated, the flight members which become airborne when set and properly released, may be either of two types. The first type has a motor means for rotating its propeller to cause flight and the second has no propeller and is put in flight by an impulse motor which comes into action when the propeller motor of the carrying flight member loses its power and the carrying flight member begins to lose speed.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17 and 18, the lower or first flight member or stage is provided with an elongated body member 40. A vane, wing or stabilizer member 41 is provided to keep the flight member going in a proper direction. This vane member is located at the following end of member 40 and the propeller 42 is located in an immediate following position. The propeller 42 is fixed to a shaft 43, having a thrust bearing 44, which is drawn against the bracket 45 by tension in motor 46, illustrated as a rubber band.

The bracket 45 is fixed with the lower end of member 40 and when the flight member is set for flight, is fitted loosely in the cylindrical members 21, 33 or 121 as the case may be, depending upon what type of launcher is used. The bracket 45 registers with the slots 121 or 21 as the case may be. It is to be noted that in the case of the use of the impulse motor of FIGS. 11 and 12, no shoulder is necessary as the power is supplied when the solenoid is energized. No tripping mechanism is necessary with this form.

As already stated, the lower end of the body member 40 loosely fits the cylindrical member in a manner to be quickly discharged therefrom when any one of the spring members 22 or 122 is released or when the solenoid is energized, depending upon which base unit is used.

A tubular member 47 is fixed to and extends forwardly from the forward end of body 40. Member 47 has a slot 47 opening through its forward end. One side edge of this slot is recessed to form an abutment or notch 47 positioned to receive and retain a lever 48. This lever 48 is similar in construction to the lever 22, previously described, and is fulcrumed in a hole or opening 47 in member 47 in a manner similar to the opening 21 in the cylindrical member 21. Bracket 49 which is attached to the body member 50 carries a bearing 51.

Mounted in the bearing 51 and the bracket 49 is a shaft 52 upon one end of which is a propeller 53-. On the upper end of the shaft 52 is a hook 52 which carries a wind-up propeller motor 54, which I illustrate as a rubber band. The upper end of this band is attached to the hook 55 of a lever member 55. This lever 55 is located in a hole or opening 56 in the hollow cylindrical member 56. This hollow member 56 fits in a fixed position on the upper end of the body member 50 of its flight member and serves as a holding member for the flight member 57, the lower end 57 of which loosely fits into the open end of the hollow member 56 until forced therefrom by the ejecting action of the lever member 55 as will be explained.

Flight member 57 is provided with guide vanes 57 but has no propeller or wind-up motor. The flight of the flight member 57 depends upon its upward movement when released and also on the upward thrust given by the lever member 55 as will now be described.

The lever 55 is fulcrumed in the hole or opening 56 This opening is preferably only slightly larger than the lever 55, allowing a slight movement from side to side in a substantially horizontal plane. One end of the lever 55 is provided with a hook 55 which as already stated carries the upper end of the wind-up propeller motor 54 which normally pulls the hook end of the lever member downwardly. Opposite the opening or hole 56 in which the lever 55 is fulcrumed, is a slot 56 in which the lever end 55 is free to move vertically. At one side of the bottom of the slot 56 is a recess 56, on the upper end of which is the shoulder 56 This shoulder 56 is in a position to receive the outer end 55 of the lever member 55 when the latter is moved so that its end 55 is held to one side.

Before the lever 55 is placed in contact with the underside of the shoulder 56 the propeller is held in the hand and wound backwardly so that when released, it will tend to go forwardly. This winding of the wind-up motor backwardly tends to cause rotation of the lever 55 in a counterclockwise direction as seen from above. This tendency to cause the rotation of the lever member 55 in a counter-clockwise direction, brings about two results. First, the lever 55 rides up on the sides of the hole or opening 56 and second, it tends to hold the lever end 55 against one side of the slot 56 Now if the operator forces the lever member end 55 downwardly and to one side, the lever end 55 can be made to stay under the shoulder 56 as long as the wind-up motor 54 is sufliciently wound up. During the flight of the member 50, the wind-up motor 54 will eventually unwind and its tendency to hold the lever member in its posi tion under the shoulder 56 is lessened until it'slips from under the shoulder 56 When this happens, the wind-up motor 54 pvots the lever member 55 in a vertical plane and the end 55 rises and engages the lower end 57 of the flight member 57. This causes a sudden thrust against this lower end 57 with the result that the flight member 57 is shot out of the hollow member 56 and a flight is given to the flight member 57 equal to the speed of the flight member 50' and the additional speed caused by the engagement of the lower end of the flight member by the lever end 57 The operation of the toy as a whole will now be described. In this description, the structure shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 will be used.

The baseunit is first prepared by pushing downwardly on the spring member :122 and its end placed under the shoulder 121. While held in this position, the detent member 123 is turned up so that its upper end will be behind the spring member 122, after which action, the spring member I22 will be held until the operating arm 1243 is moved. This places the spring arm 122 in its lowered position to receive the lower end of the flight member 40 and the lug 45.

The propeller 42 is now held in the hand and rotated backwardly, in a clockwise direction as seen from above. This winding prepares the wind-up motor 46 for supplying the power for the propeller and also puts tension and a clockwise tendency to turn, on lever 48. Lever 48 may now have its end portion 48 engaged in the slot 47 and due to the clockwise tendency to turn, will remain in engagement with the shoulder 47. The flight member 40 may now have its lower end with the bracket, inserted in the hollow cylindrical member 121.

When the outer end 48* of the lever member 48 was placed in engagement With the shoulder 47, the upper end of the flight member 40 and its cylindrical member 47 were made ready for flight. The flight member 50 is now held in the hand while the propeller is wound backwardly in a clockwise direction sufliciently to give the desired flight to the flight member 50, when released. While still held, the lever member 55 at the top of the flight member 50 is pulled downwardly and engaged with the shoulder 56 The tendency of the lever member 55 to turn in a clockwise direction, due to the winding of the wind-up motor 54 will hold the lever member 55 in contact with the shoulder 56. The lower end of flight member 50 is now inserted in the top of the cylindrical member 47 with the bracket 49 registering with its slot 47 in the cylinrical member 47. The side of the slot 47 as in the other instances where the lower end of a flight member is inserted in a cylindrical member, holds the propeller from turning until the time of its release.

The lower end 57 of the flight member 57 is now inserted in the upper end of the cylindrical member 56. With the four parts of the toy thus assembled, and with the base unit on a firm support, it is only necessary to pull the cord 123 on the end of the detent lever 12.3 As soon as the detent 123 clears the bend 122, the spring 122 is released to partially rotate clear of the shoulder 121. The coil .122" then forces the end 122 upwardly against the lower end of the initial flight member 40. As soon as the bracket 45 and the propeller 42 clear the slot in the cylindrical member 21, the propeller goes into. operation and the three flight units or stages become airborne. As the three units rise, the wind-up motor 46 will steadily lose its strength. When nearly unwound, there will be a relaxing on the part of the motor to hold the lever 48 under the shoulder 47*. At this point, the lever 48 leaves the shoulder and rises in its slot 47 and impinges on the bottom of the flight member 56. This sudden release of the lever 48 against the lower end of the flight member 50', causes it to move upwardly and release the propeller in order to put the flight member 50 in flight with the flight member 57 on its upper end.

As the flight continues, the motor member 54 will become weaker and when it has reached the predetermined point, the lever member 55 will leave its shoulder 56 and be released to exert a sudden lifting action to the flight member 57. The guide blades 51% and 57* which have acted to keep the flight members in the desired flight direction, then become the guides for their respective flight members. Just as the lever 55 gives its upward thrust,

the momentum of the flight member 50 will be lost and it will head toward the ground.

In FIG. 19 is illustrated a flight member which I call a booster and which has no vane as a guide. When in flight with flight members 40 and 50, vanes 41 and 57 serve as a guide means. When the flight member 40 loses its momentum and the flight of member continues, member 57 serves as a guide. This guide member 150 may be used in connection with the base unit with suitable connections. In other words, the structure of FIG. 19 may be used as supplemental to the other flight members or as a substitute for other flight members.

In FIG. 19 a body member 150 of the flight unit is provided with a bracket 144, a bearing 151 carrying a shaft 152 which in turn carries a propeller 153. The wind-up propeller motor 154 in the form of a rubber band is carried at its upper end by a. pivoted lever 155 which has its fulcrum in an opening 156 of the header member 156. The other end of the lever 155 has an end 155 which is within the hollow portion of the member 156 and in position to operate to give flight to the flight member 57 through contact with the lever end 155 as already described for the lever member 55 of FIG. 16 The construction and operation of the lever 155 is exactly as the operation of the lever 55 and the construction of the header member 156 is similar to the header 56 of FIGS. 5, '7, 8, and 16 For this reason, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

While I have illustrated and described various forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative and that variations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed. In the claims, the longitudinal flight axis may be, for example, the longitudinal axis of rod or body member 40.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an aerial flight device, a body having a longitudinal flight axis, means forming an abutment fixed with the forward end of said body and normal to said axis, a lever fulcrumed on said body for angular movement about mutually-normal first and second axes, a propeller journaled on said body in position rearwardly spaced from said abutment along said longitudinal axis, and resilient band power means connected between said propeller and said lever and, when twisted reacting on said lever to urge the same about said first axis into engagement with said abutment.

2. In anaerial flight device, an elongated body having a longitudinal flight axis, a lever at the forward end of said body and fulcrumed thereon between its ends, for limitedpivotal movement about first and second axes parallel with and normal to said longitudinal axis, respectively, a propeller journaled on said body rearwardly of said lever, means fixed with said body and defining a slot parallel with said longitudinal axis and within which one end of said lever is positioned, there being a notch in one side wall of said slot, and resilient band power means connected between said propeller and the second end of said lever, said power means when twisted for rotation of said propeller in the flight direction, urging said lever in rotation about said first axis to hold the first end thereof within said notch.

3. An aerial flight device as in claim 2, tension in said power means urging said lever in a direction of rotation about said second axis to move the first end thereof forwardly along said slot when released from said notch.

4. An aerial flight instrument comprising, an elongated body having a longitudinal flight axis, sleeve means fixed with the forward end of said body and having a longitudinally-extending slot in its wall, there being a notch in one side edge of said slot,-a lever fulcrumed in a hole in the wall of said sleeve means, diametrically opposite said slot and projecting across said sleeve means into said slot, said lever having limited angular movement about a first axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, and about a second axis normal to said longitudinal axis, a propeller journaled at the rearward end of said body for rotation on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, and resilient band power means connected between said propeller and one end of said lever, said power means when twisted for flight urging said lever in pivotal movement about said first axis to hold the other end thereof within said notch, tension in said band means urging said lever in pivotal movement about said second axis to move the second end thereof forwardly along said slot.

5. An aerial flight device as in claim 4, said hole being circular, the portion of said lever fulcrumed in said hole being circular and of smaller diameter than said hole.

6. In an aerial flight device, a body having a longitudinal flight axis, sleeve means fixed with the forward end of said body and defining an abutment normal to said axis, a lever fulcrumed between its ends at the forward end of said body for limited pivotal movement about first and second axes parallel with and normal to said longitudinal axis, respectively, a propeller journaled on said body rearwardly of said lever, for rotation on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, resilient band power means connected between said propeller and one end of said lever and, when tensioned and twisted for rotation of said propeller in the flight direction, urging said lever in rotation about said second and first axes, respectively.

7. A self-propelled aerial vehicle comprising, an elongated body having a longitudinal flight axis, a tubular member fixed with said body and having a portion projecting forwardly therefrom, there being a slot in the wall of said portion, parallel with said axis and having a notch in one side edge, a lever universally fulcrumed in an aperture in said portion diametrically opposite said slot for pivotal movement about first and second axes perpendicular to and parallel with said flight axis, respectively, and having a first end movable within and along said slot, a propeller journaled on said body rearwardly of said lever, for rotation about an axis parallel with said flight axis, resilient band power means connected between said propeller and the second end of said lever and, when twisted and tensioned for rotation of said propeller in the flight direction, urging said lever into said notch and forwardly along said slot.

8. In a multi-stage aerial flight device, a first stage comprising a body having a longitudinal flight axis, a tubular member fixed with the forward end of said first stage and having a longitudinal slot in its wall and a notch in one side edge of said slot at the rearward end thereof, a lever fulcrumed between its ends in an aperture in said member, opposite said slot, and having a first end movable along said slot and into said notch, a propeller journaled on said body for rotation on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, resilient band power means connected between said propeller and the second end of said lever and when twisted and tensioned for flight, urging said first end of said lever toward said notch and outwardly along said slot, the first end of said lever being moved out of said notch and into and forwardly along said slot by residual tension in said power means during flight, a second flight stage comprising a body having a portion fitting said tubular member and engaged by said lever to separate said stages in flight by movement of said lever forwardly along said slot, as aforesaid.

9. A multi-stage aerial flight device as in claim 8, said notch having a rearwardly-facing edge sloped to effect a component torque reaction on said lever urging the same out of said notch in response to tension in said power means, said component torque reaction being effective to move said lever into said slot and forwardly therealong, only after a decrease in twist in said power means in flight.

10. In an aerial flight instrument, a body having a longitudinal flight axis, a lever, means mounting said lever at the forward end of said body for pivoting about first and second axes respectively parallel with and normal to said longitudinal axis, means forming a rearwardly-facing shoulder at the forward end of said body and beneath which one end of said lever may engage, -a propeller journaled on said body at the rearward end thereof for rotation on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, and resilient band means connected between one end of said lever and said propeller to spin the latter, said resilient band means when twisted for flight in the forward direction, reacting onsaid lever about said first axis. to urge the same into position beneath said shoulder and prevent rotation thereof about said second axis.

11. In an aerial flight device, a body having a longitudinal flight axis, sleeve means fixed with the forward end of said body and defining an abutment normal to said axis, a lever fulcrumed between its ends at the .forward end of said body, for limited pivotal movement about first and second axes parallel with and normal to said longitudinal axis, respectively, a propeller journaled on said body rearwardly of said lever, for rotation on an axis parallel with said longitudinal axis, resilient band power means connected between said propeller and one end of said lever and, when tensioned and twisted for rotation of said propeller in the flight direction, urging said lever in rotation about said second and first axes,'respectively, and a second discrete flight body having a portion slidably and releasably fitting said sleeve means, rotation of said lever about said second axis engaging and expelling said second body forwardly out of said sleeve means.

12. In an aerial flight instrument, a first stage comprising a body having a longitudinal flight axis, a lever mounted universally at a point between its ends and at the forward end of said body, for pivotal movement about a first axis parallel with said longitudinal axis and a second axis normal to said longitudinal axis, from a first position in which one end of said lever is in rearwardly retracted position about said second axis, a rearwardly facing abutment surface fixed with said body and beneath which said one end of said lever may engage to be releasably held thereby in said first position, a propeller journaled on said body rearwardly of said lever, and resilient band power means connected between said propeller and the second end of said lever, said power means, when twisted for flight, urging said lever into contact with said abutment surface to thereby hold the same in said rearwardly retracted position.

13. An aerial flight device as in claim 12, said power means having an initial tension be-fore twisting for flight, said abutment surface being constructed and arranged to develop a reaction torque on said lever having a component about said first axis axis urging said lever free of said abutment surface when twist power in said power means has been substantially depleted.

14. A flight device as in claim 12, a ground-supported base including socket means releasably receiving and sup porting said first stage vertically for flight, second power means carried by said base and movable to engage said first stage to impel the same free of said base, and man ually-controlled means effecting movement of said power means as aforesaid.

15. In an aerial flight device, an elongated winged body element, a propeller journaled on said element at the rearward end thereof for rotation on an axis longitudinally thereof, a coupling sleeve fixed with and projecting forwardly from the forward end of said element, a kick-01f lever fulcrumed between its ends in one wall of said sleeve for universal pivotal movement and projecting diametrically through and across said sleeve, said lever being pivotable about an axis longitudinal of said element, from a first cocked position with one end held in and by latch means fixed with said sleeve, to a second position about an axis transversely of said element expelling an object releasably fitting the forward end of said sleeve, and resilient band propulsion means connecting said pro- 1 l peller and lever and when twisted to drive said propeller in the flight direction, acting to urge said lever about said longitudinal axis into said first position. p

16. An aerial flight device as recited in claim 15,- said latch means comprising a bayonet slot through the wall of said sleeve, said resilient propulsion means when in untwisted condition, exerting a pull on said lever to urge the same to said second position and thereby expel an object from said sleeve.

17. In an aerial flight device, a first elongated winged body element, a propeller journaled on said first element at the rearward end thereof for rotation on a longitudinal axis, a coupling sleeve fixed with and projecting forwardly from the forward end of said first element, a kick-01f lever fulcrumed between its ends in the wall of said sleeve for universal pivotal movement and projecting diametrically thereacross, said lever being pivotable about an axis transversely of said element, from a first cocked position with one end held in and by a bayonet slot through the wall of said sleeve, to a second position expelling an object releasably fitting the forward end of said sleeve, and resilient band propulsion means connecting said propeller and lever and, when twisted to rotate said propeller in the flight direction, reacting on said lever to urge the same about an axis longitudinally of said element into engagement with said bayonet slot.

18. In an aerial flight device, a first elongated winged body element, a propeller journaled on said first element at the rearward end thereof for rotation on a longitudinal axis, a coupling sleeve fixed with and projecting forwardly from the forward end of said first element, a kick-off lever fulcrumed between its ends in the wall of said sleeve and projecting diametrically thereacross, said lever being pivotable from a first cocked position with one end held in and by a bayonet slot through the wall of said sleeve, to a second position expelling an object releasably fitting the forward end of said sleeve, resilient'propulsion means connecting said propeller and lever and, when twisted to rotate said propeller in the flight direction, reacting of said lever to urge the same into engagement with said bayonet slot, a second winged body element having a radially-projecting propeller bearing lug fixed with its rearward end, said rearward end releasably fitting said sleeve with said lug slidably fitting within the axial por-' tion of said bayonet slot.

19. In an aerial toy, a first flight stage comprising a first winged column, a sleeve fixed with the forward end of said column and projecting therefrom, a second flight stage comprising a second winged column having its rearward end adapted to releasably fit said sleeve in axially-aligned relation with said first column, a kick-off lever projecting through an aperture in the wall of said sleeve between; the confronting ends of said columns, bearing means fixed with the lower end of said first column, a propeller journaled in said bearing means for rotation on an axis parallel with the common axis of said columns, resilient propulsion means having its respective termini connected with said lever and propeller, latch means carried by said sleeve and operable to hold said lever in a first retracted position, said propulsion means when twisted, urging said lever into engagement with said latch means and when untwisted, exerting a longitudinal pull on said lever to urge the same into a second position expelling said second flight stage from said sleeve.

20. In an aerial flight device, first and second discrete flight stages, a sleeve" fixed with the forward end of said first flight stage, means fixed with the rearward end of said second flight stage and slidably fitting said sleeve, a lever carried by said sleeve for pivotal movement about an axis intermediate its ends and transversely of said sleeve, from a first position free of said means, to a second position engaging and expelling said means from said sleeve, air screw propelling means journaled on said first stage and connected with said lever, and means responsive to substantialdepletion of propelling power of said air screw propelling means, to effect release of said lever from said first position and to pivot the same to said second position to separate said stages.

21. An aerial flight device as in claim 20, second air screw propelling means carried by said second stage and activated by and in response to separation of said stages.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,765,435 McBride June 24, 1930 2,923,089 Fissel Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 826,425 France Jan. 4, 1938 1,089,833 France Oct. 6, 1954 

1. IN AN AERIAL FLIGHT DEVICE, A BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL FLIGHT AXIS, MEANS FORMING AN ABUTMENT FIXED WITH THE FORWARD END OF SAID BODY AND NORMAL TO SAID AXIS, A LEVER FULCRUMED ON SAID BODY FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT MUTUALLY-NORMAL FIRST AND SECOND AXES, A PROPELLER JOURNALED ON SAID BODY IN POSITION REARWARDLY SPACED FROM SAID ABUTMENT ALONG SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AND RESILIENT BAND POWER MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID PROPELLER AND SAID LEVER AND, WHEN TWISTED REACTING ON SAID LEVER TO URGE THE SAME ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ABUTMENT. 